Food

Detailing 10 of the World’s Spiciest Foods

Eating spicy food is a challenge for some people. Once they have experienced the mouth-watering, nose dripping, and burning tongue that spicy foods often produce, it makes them want to up their game even more. 

Below are 10 of the world’s spiciest foods to satisfy the palate of adventurous eaters everywhere.

Sichuan Hot Pot

People who live in the province of Sichuan, China pride themselves as having some of the spiciest food in the world. Sichuan hot pot is no exception. Typical ingredients in this Chinese and Mongolian dish include garlic, vegetables, meat, Sichuan peppers, chili oil, and broth. Sichuan hot pot is popular in the winter because it warms people up on cold days.

Jerk chicken

Originating in the Jamaican Caribbean, jerk chicken is tangy and sweet in addition to spicy. The primary ingredients include nutmeg, garlic, thyme, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, habanero peppers, and scotch bonnet. Jerk chicken gets its famous spicy kick from the last two ingredients.

Neau Pad Prik

Also known as Thai pepper steak, neau pad prik includes bird’s eye chilies. This ingredient comes in just under habanero on the Scoville Heat Scale and creates a memorable burn.

Sichuan Spicy Fish in Chili Oil

Seafood is popular in China, especially since its government encourages the population to eat more seafood because it’s a sustainable protein source. Sichuan spicy fish in chili oil is especially popular, even in the United States. Boiled in water, the fish arrives covered in mala seasoning and Sichuan peppers. The spiciness often takes diners by surprise because the dish looks much tamer than it tastes.

Phaal Curry

Phaal curry from India is so spicy that some restaurants require diners to sign an agreement not to sue if the extreme spiciness causes injury or health issues. The dish contains 10 different types of peppers, including bhut jolokia.

Griot

Considered one of the spiciest foods in Haiti, griot is a pork shoulder covered with Haitian sauce. Ingredients in the sauce include habanero chili peppers or minced scotch bonnet, spicy pickled peppers, and apple cider vinegar.

Papa a la Huancaina

Peru’s spiciest dish appears as a typical salad to the untrained eye. It contains boiled eggs, olives, and Huancaina sauce loaded with Amarillo chili peppers that provides the spiciness.

Kimchi Jjigae 

The spice from this Korean dish comes more from the cooking process than the ingredients of red chilis, mushrooms, tofu, garlic, and green onions. Slow simmering of the ingredients until they become infused creates an exceptionally spicy sauce. Chefs also serve it boiling hot.

Otak-Otak

The ingredients in this grilled seafood include spices, tapioca starch, and ground fish surrounded by a banana leaf. People in Malaysia or Singapore also add curry powder, turmeric, and chili to make the spiciness even more intense.

Tom Yum

A spicy and sour soup originating from Thailand, this dish is similar to neau pad prik with some of its ingredients. These include spicy meats and seafood, fish sauce, lime juice, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and bird’s eye pepper. The broth is typically orange or bright red, warning diners of the spiciness they’re about to experience.

Fans of extremely spicy food can keep themselves busy for a long time just trying every item on this list.